Cash drawer for an automatic teller

ABSTRACT

A dispensing compartment for an automatic cash dispensing/depositing machine, having a base ( 26 ) and a removal opening which can be closed off by a closure flap ( 16 ), is designed as a module which can be inserted into the machine, comprising a frame ( 10 ) which has the removal opening and, arranged on said frame, the closure flap ( 16 ) which can be adjusted between its open position, in which it releases the removal opening, and its closed position, in which it closes off the removal opening, also comprising the compartment base ( 26 ), a stacking device ( 100 ) for setting down banknotes on the compartment base ( 26 ), a separating device ( 38 ) for drawing off banknotes from the compartment base ( 26 ), a first transporting path ( 72, 80, 90 ) for conveying banknotes from a first connection location of the module to the stacking device ( 100 ), a second transport path ( 101, 90, 80 ) for conveying banknotes from a second connection location ( 105 ) of the module to the stacking device ( 100 ), and a third transporting path ( 56 ) for conveying banknotes from the separating device ( 38 ) to the first connection location ( 68 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a dispensing compartment for an automatic cashdispensing/depositing machine, having a base and a removal opening whichcan be closed off by a closure flap.

In an automatic cash dispensing machine, on the one hand, the cashrequested by the customer has to be provided so that it can be removedby the customer once the closure flap has been opened. On the otherhand, it has to be possible for banknotes which the customer has notremoved from the compartment following a certain period of time to bedrawn in again. In an automatic cashing dispensing/depositing machine,furthermore, it has to be possible to return to the customer thebanknotes which, for whatever reason, have been deemed unacceptable, bethis because they are possibly not authentic, they belong to a foreigncurrency for which the machine is not suitable, they are damagedmechanically or are provided with foreign bodies such as paper clips oradhesive tape.

Performance of the above-described functions requires varioushigh-outlay devices which have to be arranged in the region of thedispensing compartment. In the known automatic cashdispensing/depositing machines, these devices involve relatively highoutlay, require a large amount of space and are difficult to adjust andto maintain.

The object of the invention is to specify a dispensing compartment ofthe type mentioned in the introduction in which the devices which arenecessary for performing the above-mentioned functions require lessspace and are easier to adjust and to maintain.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that thedispensing compartment is designed as a module which can be insertedinto the machine, comprising a frame which has the removal opening and,arranged on said frame, the closure flap which can be adjusted betweenits open position, in which it releases the removal opening, and itsclosed position, in which it closes off the removal opening, alsocomprising the compartment base, a stacking device for setting banknoteson the compartment base, a separating device for drawing off banknotesfrom the compartment base, a first transporting path for conveyingbanknotes from a first connection location of the module to the stackingdevice, a second transporting path for conveying banknotes from a secondconnection location of the module to the stacking device, and a thirdtransporting device for conveying banknotes from the separating deviceto the first connection location.

The module is a self-contained unit which can perform all the functionsdescribed in the introduction. All that is required is for the machineto provide a first connection location, at which banknotes aretransported from a banknote store of the machine to the module and/or atwhich banknotes are conveyed from the module to a banknote store of themachine. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a second connectionlocation, at which the banknotes rejected during the checking operationare transferred to the module.

The module may be prefabricated as a single unit. This allows aconsiderably more compact arrangement of the components since they canbe better adapted to one another than was the case with the conventionalmachines. Furthermore, the module may be removed as a single unit foradjustment and maintenance purposes. The individual components are thusmore easily accessible and can be maintained and adjusted more easily.

The stacking device may be, in a manner known per se, a stacking wheelwhich is mounted in the frame such that it can be rotated about aspindle which is parallel to the compartment base.

The compartment base may advantageously be adjusted between a stackingposition, in which the banknotes can be set down on the compartment baseby the stacking device, and a drawing-off position, in which theseparating device can grip the respectively lowermost banknote restingon the compartment base. It is preferable here for the compartment baseto be prestressed into its stacking position, with the result that itcan be actively adjusted merely in one direction, namely in thedirection of its drawing-off position.

Very straightforward adjustability of the compartment base can beachieved in that said compartment base is mounted such that it can bepivoted about a spindle located in the vicinity of the removal opening.

In order to adjust the compartment base in the direction of itsdrawing-off position, use is made of a pressure-exerting plate, whichalso assumes further functions at the same time. Said pressure-exertingplate can be adjusted between a stacking position, in which it forms adirecting surface for the banknotes running into the stacking devicefrom the first or second transporting path, and a removal position, inwhich at a distance from the compartment base, and more or less parallelthereto, it at least partially covers the dispensing compartment in thedirection of the stacking device, and from which it can be adjusted intoa pressure-exerting position, in which it rests on the uppermostbanknote of a banknote stack arranged on the compartment base. In theremoval position, the pressure-exerting plate thus forms at least partof the top compartment boundary and prevents the customer from beingable to reach into the stacking device as he/she is removing thebanknotes from the dispensing compartment. In its pressure-exertingposition, said pressure-exerting plate keeps the compartment base in itsdrawing-off position and ensures that the separating device can reliablygrip the respectively lowermost banknote of a banknote stack located onthe compartment base.

The pressure-exerting plate can preferably be pivoted between itsstacking position and its removal position, about a spindle parallel tothe stacking-wheel spindle, and can be adjusted in a linear manner,parallel to itself, between the removal position and the respectivepressure-exerting position.

In order to control the movements of the pressure-exerting plate, theinvention proposes a drive mechanism which has at least one controlwheel which is mounted coaxially with the pivot spindle of thepressure-exerting plate and can be adjusted by means of a drive motorbetween a first end position, which corresponds to the stacking positionof the pressure-exerting plate, an intermediate position, whichcorresponds to the removal position of the pressure-exerting plate, anda second end position, which corresponds to the pressure-exertingposition of the pressure-exerting plate, in which the pressure-exertingplate is located next to the compartment base, it being the case thatthe pressure-exerting plate is coupled to the control wheel via a leverand cam control mechanism such that it is forcibly adjusted as thecontrol wheel rotates from the second end position to the first endposition and from the first end position to the intermediate position,whereas, upon movement of the control wheel from the intermediateposition to the second end position, the forced coupling between thecontrol wheel and pressure-exerting plate is eliminated. In this region,in which the pressure-exerting plate is intended for resting on abanknote stack located on the compartment base, the pressure-exertingplate is preferably moved under the action of a spring which prestressesthe pressure-exerting plate in the direction of the compartment base. Onthe one hand, this control ensures that the pressure-exerting plate isadjusted reliably between its stacking position and its removal positionand is guided back reliably from its pressure-exerting position, next tothe compartment base, counter to the action of the pressure-exertingspring; on the other hand, the capacity of the pressure-exerting plateto move freely in its pressure-exerting position and the springprestressing can ensure that the pressure-exerting plate always presseswith a predetermined force on the banknote stack and keeps the latter inengagement with the separating device.

Precise control can easily be achieved in that the drive motor fordriving the control wheel is a stepping motor, and in that the zeropoint for the step counting is established by a position indicatorconnected to the control wheel.

In order to maintain as compact an arrangement as possible, it isexpedient for the pressure-exerting plate not to be made too large. Thismeans that the pressure-exerting plate, in the removal position, may notcover the entire dispensing compartment. For this case, it is expedientfor the pressure-exerting plate, for covering the compartment, tointeract with a further flap which is mounted in the vicinity of thecompartment opening such that it can be pivoted about a spindle parallelto the pivot spindle of the pressure-exerting plate, and which iscoupled to the control wheel via a lever/cam control mechanism suchthat, as the control wheel is adjusted between its first end positionand its intermediate position, said flap is adjusted counter to thepivoting movement of the pressure-exerting plate.

Further features and advantages of the invention can be gathered from afollowing description, which explains the invention, by way of anexemplary embodiment, in conjunction with the attached drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially sectional side view of a compartmentmodule according to the invention with the pressure-exerting plate inthe stacking position,

FIG. 2 shows an illustration, corresponding to FIG. 1, of the frontmodule section during the operation of stacking banknotes on thecompartment base,

FIG. 3 shows an illustration, corresponding to FIG. 2, of thecompartment module with the pressure-exerting plate in its removalposition and with the closure flap open, and

FIG. 4 shows an illustration, corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3, of thecompartment module with the closure flap closed and with thepressure-exerting plate in its pressure-exerting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The dispensing-compartment module illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises anouter module frame which is designated 10 in general terms and has twoouter frame walls 12, of which only one is illustrated here and whichare connected to one another in a manner which is not illustratedspecifically. Arranged in front of the module frame 10 is an openingframe 14 which is inserted into a corresponding opening in a housing ofan automatic cash dispensing/depositing machine and bounds the removalopening of the dispensing compartment. Furthermore, the removal openingis closed off by a curved closure flap 16 which can be adjusted, via anactuating mechanism (not illustrated), between the closed position,which is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and the open position, whichis illustrated in FIG. 3 and in which the dispensing compartment isaccessible.

Arranged between the side walls 12 of the outer module frame is an innerframe 18, of which likewise only one of two frame side walls 20 isillustrated here, these being connected to one another by an assemblypart 22 directed transversely to them. The assembly part 22 forms aframe-mounted bottom boundary for the dispensing compartment.

Running in the plane of the assembly part 22, and in the vicinity of theclosure flap 16, is a pivot spindle 24 which is directed parallel tosaid closure flap, a compartment base 26 being mounted such that it canbe pivoted about said pivot spindle 24. The compartment base 26comprises a metal plate from which a leg 28 projects at an acute anglein the region of the pivot spindle 24. Acting on said leg is a tensionspring 30, which has its other end fitted on a pin 32 which is fixed tothe assembly part 22. The tension spring 30 prestresses the compartmentbase 26 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, with the resultthat it lifts off from the assembly part 22. The pivoting movement islimited in that the compartment base 26 strikes by way of its free edge,which is remote from the pivot spindle 24, against a stop 34, which isformed on a second frame-mounted assembly part 36.

A separating device designated 38 in general terms is arranged in theregion of the assembly part 22, beneath the compartment base 26. Itcomprises drawing-off rollers 40 which, through slits (not illustrated)in the compartment base 26, can come into contact with the lowermostbanknote of a banknote stack resting on the compartment base 26, as willbe explained in more detail below by way of FIG. 4. The drawing-offrollers 40 are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a shaft 42,extending transversely between the side walls 20 of the inner frame 18,and can be driven by said shaft.

Extending parallel to the shaft 42 is a shaft 44, on which rapidlycirculating drive rollers 46 are arranged. These interact with stripperrollers 48 which circulate slowly in the opposite direction, on a shaft50 parallel to the shaft 44, in order to prevent two banknotes frombeing drawn off at the same time. Located downstream of the nip formedby the rollers 46 and 48 are transporting rollers 52, which are arrangedon a shaft 54, parallel to the shaft 44, and transfer to a belt conveyor56 banknotes which have been drawn off by the separating device 38, saidbelt conveyor comprising an endless belt 64 which runs over end rollers58, 60 and intermediate rollers 62 and of which one strand forms, with adirecting plate 66, a conveying gap for the banknotes drawn off by theseparating device. The belt conveyor 56 extends from the separatingdevice 38 to a first connection or transfer location 68 at the rear endof the module frame 10.

The transfer location 68 is formed by end rollers 70 of a second beltconveyor 72 and mating rollers 74 which interact with the end rollers70. The belt conveyor 72 comprises a belt 76 which extends, on the onehand, over the end rollers 70 and, on the other hand, over end rollers78. The belt conveyor 72 interacts with one section of a further beltconveyor 80, of which the belt 82 extends over end rollers 84 and 86 andintermediate rollers 88. The other section of said further belt conveyor80 interacts with a further belt conveyor 90, of which the belt 92extends over rollers 94, 96 and 98 arranged in a triangle. The beltconveyor 72, 80 and 90 together form a transporting path for conveyingbanknotes from the transfer location 68 to a stacking device 100, whichwill be explained in more detail below.

A section of the belt conveyor 90 interacts with a further belt conveyor101, of which the belt 102 extends over end rollers 103 and 104. Thebelt conveyors 101, 90 and 80 together form a transporting path whichconnects to the stacking device 100 a second transfer location 105 forbanknotes entering the dispensing-compartment module.

The stacking device 100 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart stackingwheels 106 which are known per se, are arranged axially one beside theother and can be rotated about a spindle 108. The banknotes introducedbetween the tangentially directed plastic tongues 110 of the rapidlycirculating stacking wheels 106 are set down on the compartment base 26following a partial rotation of the stacking wheels 106. The arrangementand control of a pressure-exerting plate, designated 112 in generalterms, will now be explained hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

The pressure-exerting plate 112 comprises a plurality of sections (notillustrated) between which the stacking wheels 106 can pass through andwhich are connected to one another by a crosspiece 114. At the outerborders, the pressure-exerting plate 112 is connected to curved levers116 which, in the vicinity of their shorter, free leg, each bear arotary pin 118. The two rotary pins 118 form a spindle about which thepressure-exerting plate 112 is mounted in a pivotable manner between thetwo side walls 20 of the inner frame 18. The pins 118 are each enclosedby a sliding block 120, of which the width, in one direction,corresponds to the diameter of the respective pin 118 and which projectsradially beyond the pin 118 in the direction perpendicular thereto. Thesliding blocks 120 are mounted in a rotatable manner in bores 122 in theside walls 20. These bores 122 are adjoined in each case by a groove 124which extends in the direction of the assembly part 22, essentiallyperpendicularly to the latter, and of which the width corresponds to thediameter of the pin 118, with the result that the latter and/or thesliding block 120 can slide longitudinally in the groove 124.

In each case one control wheel 126 formed by a gearwheel is mounted in arotatable manner on the side walls 20, coaxially with thepressure-exerting plate 112. Said control wheel may be driven by astepping motor 132 via a gearwheel 128, which engages with the controlwheel, and an intermediate gearwheel 130.

The control wheel 126 is connected to the pressure-exerting plate 112via a coupling lever 134 which is curved in the form of an arc of acircle and of which one end is articulated on the pressure-exertingplate 112 such that it can be pivoted about an articulation spindle 136,and of which the other end bears a pin 138 which engages in a curvedgroove 140 formed in the control wheel 126. However, the curvature ofthe groove 140 is not coaxial with the rotary spindle 118 of the controlwheel 126.

The pressure-exerting plate 112 is prestressed by a tension spring 142,of which one end acts on a pin 144 on the pressure-exerting plate 112,said pin being located between the rotary pin 118 and the articulationpin 124, and of which the other end acts at 146 on a fork head 148 of anangle lever 150. The latter engages, by way of the fork head 148, arounda pin 152, which is arranged on a side wall 20 of the inner frame 18,and is mounted, by way of its other end, on the rotary pin 118 of thepressure-exerting plate 112. A further tension spring 154, on the onehand, is arranged at a framework-mounted point 156 in the vicinity ofthe transporting roller 52 of the separating device 38 and, on the otherhand, acts at a location 158 located approximately in the center betweenthe two ends of the angle lever 150.

The device described thus far operates as follows:

FIG. 2 shows the dispensing-compartment module according to theinvention during the operation of stacking banknotes on the compartmentbase 26. The former may be banknotes which are transported to thestacking device 100 from a store of the automatic cash dispensingmachine, via the transfer location 68 and the belt conveyors 72, 80 and90, or else from a depositing compartment located above thedispensing-compartment module, via the transfer location 105 and thebelt conveyors 101, 90 and 80. The banknotes are stripped off from thestacking wheels 106 onto the compartment base 26 and are positioned onthe resiliently mounted compartment base.

In this position, the pressure-exerting plate 112 has been swungclockwise in the upward and rearward direction and forms a directingsurface for the banknotes running into the stacking wheels 106, in orderto prevent said banknotes from dropping rearward into the module. Thecontrol wheel 126 is likewise rotated clockwise into a first endposition. In this end position, a radial tongue 160 (FIG. 2), which isconnected to the control wheel 126, passes into a fork-type lightbarrier 162 which is connected to the control means for the steppingmotor 132. The signal which is produced by the fork-type light barrier162 in this position of the control wheel and by the tongue 160connected thereto defines a zero position for the stepping motor 132,from which it is possible to count the steps for the adjustment of thecontrol wheel 126.

Once all the banknotes have been set down on the compartment base 26,the pressure-exerting plate 112 is pivoted in the counterclockwisedirection into the position illustrated in FIG. 3. This takes place bythe control wheel 126 being rotated in the counterclockwise direction bythe stepping motor 132, via the gearwheels 130 and 128, with the resultthat the pressure-exerting plate 112 can be pivoted, under the action ofthe tension spring 142, in the counterclockwise direction as far as ispermitted by the coupling of the control wheel 126 via the couplinglever 134. In this case, the position of the sliding block 120 permitsthe rotary pin 118 merely to rotate, and prevents displacement along thegroove 124.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the pressure-exerting plate 112is directly at least more or less parallel to the compartment base 26and the assembly part 22 and conceals the stacking device 100. Thecovering is completed by a further flap 164, which interacts with thepressure-exerting plate 112 is mounted in the vicinity of the closureflap 16 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot spindle 166, and canbe pivoted, via a lever linkage 168, between the closed position, whichis illustrated in FIG. 3, and the open position, which is illustrated inFIG. 2. The lever linkage 168 comprises a first lever 170, which isconnected in a rotationally fixed manner to the flap 164 and, at itsfree end, is connected in an articulated manner to one end of an anglelever 174 via a pin/slot connection 172. Said angle lever is mounted, atits angle vortex, on a side wall 20 of the inner frame 18 such that itcan be rotated about a spindle 176 and, at the free end of its otherleg, bears a pin 178 by way of which it engages in a control groove 180formed on the control wheel 126. Said control groove comprises a more orless radially running branch 182 and a branch 184 which runs coaxiallywith the rotary spindle 118 of the control wheel 126. Upon transfer fromthe release position of the flap 164, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, tothe covering or closed position of the flap 164, which is illustrated inFIG. 3, the pin 178 runs through the radial branch 182 of the controlgroove 180.

Finally, in the position of FIG. 3, the closure flap 16 is transferreddownward, again via a motor (not illustrated) into its open position,with the result that the customer can then remove the banknote bundleset down on the compartment base 26. Whether or not the banknotes havebeen removed in their entirety from the dispensing compartment can bedetected with the aid of a light barrier which comprises a light source186 and a light receiver 188, the light beam 190 passing through gaps inthe compartment base 26 and the pressure-exerting plate 112, said gapsbeing provided in the relevant parts for the drawing-off rollers 40 andthe stacking wheels 106, respectively.

If it is established by means of a light barrier 186, 188 that thecustomer has not removed the banknotes, or has not removed them in theirentirety, within a predetermined period of time, then these banknotesare drawn into the machine from the dispensing compartment. For thispurpose, first of all the closure flap 16 is closed again in accordancewith FIG. 4.

Thereafter, the control wheel 126 is rotated in the counterclockwisedirection from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 into the positionillustrated in FIG. 4. This releases the pressure-exerting plate 112,which then, under the action of the tension springs 154 and 142,executes a linear movement parallel to itself, the sliding block 120sliding in the groove 124. The pressure-exerting plate 112 then pressesthe banknote stack, together with the compartment base 26, against theassembly part 22, the drawing-off rollers 40 passing through the slitsin the compartment base 26 and coming into contact with the lowermostbanknote of the banknote stack. The rollers of the separating device 38are then driven in the direction of the depicted arrows, with the resultthat the banknotes of the stack are drawn off individually. Thebanknotes are then transported, via the belt conveyor 56, to the firsttransfer location 68, and are transferred there to a banknote conveyor,of the machine, which transports them to a store or to a rejectcompartment.

Once all the banknotes have been drawn off from the compartment base 26,the pressure-exerting plate 112 can be pivoted into the startingposition again in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2. For this purpose, thecontrol wheel 126 is pivoted in the clockwise direction by the steppingmotor 132, the coupling lever 134 being carried along by the left-handend of the groove 140 and, for its part, drawing the pressure-exertingplate 112 in the linear groove 124 in the direction of the center pointof the control wheel 126. When the sliding block 120 is located in thecentral bore 122, the coupling lever 134 is supported on a collar 192concentric with the rotary spindle 108, as FIG. 3 shows. As the controlwheel 126 continues to rotate, the pressure-exerting plate 112, ratherthan be moved in a linear manner, is pivoted in the clockwise directionabout its pivot pin 118 until it has reached the position illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. Simultaneously with this movement, the flap 164 ispivoted from the closed position, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, intothe open position, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The angle lever 150, which extends over the entire module width, hasbeen introduced in order to form a more favorable spring excursion forthe tension spring 154 and to give the pressure-exerting plate 112, viathe common point of rotation, a higher level of rigidity and moreprecise alignment, since, with the exception of small crosspieces, thepressure-exerting plate 112 is subdivided by the stacking wheels 106 anumber of times.

List of designations 10 Module frame 12 Frame wall 14 Opening frame 16Closure flap 18 Inner frame 20 Frame side wall 22 Assembly part 24 Pivotspindle 26 Compartment base 28 Leg 30 Tension spring 32 Pin 34 Stop 36Assembly part 38 Separating device 40 Drawing-off rollers 42 Shaft 44Shaft 46 Drive rollers 48 Stripper rollers 50 Shaft 52 Transportingrollers 54 Shaft 56 Belt conveyor 58 End rollers 60 End rollers 62Intermediate rollers 64 Endless belt 66 Directing plate 68 Connectionlocation 70 End rollers 72 Belt conveyor 74 Mating rollers 76 Belt 78End rollers 80 Belt conveyor 82 Belt 84 End rollers 86 End rollers 88Intermediate rollers 90 Belt conveyor 92 Belt 94 Rollers 96 Rollers 98Rollers 100 Stacking device 101 Belt conveyor 102 Belt 103 End rollers104 End rollers 105 Transfer location 106 Stacking wheel 108 Spindle 110Plastic tongues 112 Pressure-exerting plate 114 Crosspiece 116 Lever 118Rotary pin 120 Sliding block 122 Bore 124 Groove 126 Control wheel 128Gear wheel 130 Intermediate gear wheel 132 Stepping motor 134 Couplinglever 136 Articulation spindle 138 Pin 140 Groove 142 Tension spring 144Pin 146 Fastening location on the fork head 148 Fork head 150 Anglelever 152 Pin 154 Tension spring 156 Framework-mounted point 158Location on the angle lever 160 Radial tongue 162 Fork-type lightbarrier 164 Flap 166 Pivot spindle 168 Lever linkage 170 Lever 172Pin/slot connection 174 Angle lever 176 Spindle 178 Pin 180 Controlgroove 182 Radial branch 184 Coaxial branch 186 Light source 188 Lightreceiver 190 Light beam 192 Collar

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispensing compartment for an automatic cashdispensing/depositing machine, having a supporting plate (26), having astacking device (100) for depositing banknotes on the supporting plate(26), the stacking device (100) comprising at least one stacking wheel(106) which is mounted such that it can be rotated about a spindle (108)which is parallel to the supporting plate (26), and having a removalopening which can be closed off by a closure flap (16) which can beadjusted between its open position, in which it releases the removalopening, and its closed position, in which it closes off the removalopening, and also having a separating device (38) for drawing offbanknotes from a compartment base (26), a first transporting path (72,80, 90) for conveying banknotes to the stacking device (100), and athird transporting path (56) for conveying banknotes from the separatingdevice (38) to a banknote conveyor, characterized in that thecompartment base (26) is mounted such that it can be pivoted about aspindle (24) located in the vicinity of the removal opening, in that thecompartment base (26) forms the supporting plate in a stacking positionand can be adjusted between the stacking position, in which banknotescan be deposited on the compartment base (26) by the stacking device(100), and a drawing-off position, in which the separating device (38)can grip the respectively lowermost banknote resting on the compartmentbase (26), and in that there is provided a pressure-exerting plate (112)which can be adjusted between a stacking position, in which it forms adirecting surface for the banknotes running into the stacking device(100) from the first or second transporting path (72, 80, 90 or 101, 80,90, respectively), and a removal position, in which at a distance fromthe compartment base (26) and more or less parallel thereto, it at leastpartially covers the dispensing compartment in the direction of thestacking device (100), and from which it can be adjusted into apressure-exerting position, in which it rests on the uppermost banknoteof a banknote stack arranged on the compartment base (26).
 2. Thedispensing compartment as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thepressure-exerting plate (112) can be pivoted between its stackingposition and its removal position, about a spindle parallel to thestacking-wheel spindle, and can be adjusted in a linear manner, parallelto itself, between the removal position and the respectivepressure-exerting position.
 3. The dispensing compartment as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that a drive mechanism for thepressure-exerting plate (112) has at least one control wheel (126) whichis mounted coaxially with the pivot spindle (118) of thepressure-exerting plate (112) and can be adjusted by means of a drivemotor (132) between a first end position, which corresponds to thestacking position of the pressure-exerting plate (112), an intermediateposition, which corresponds to the removal position of thepressure-exerting plate (112), and a second end position, whichcorresponds to the pressure-exerting position of the pressure-exertingplate (112), in which the latter is located next to the compartment base(26), and in that the pressure-exerting plate (112) is coupled to thecontrol wheel (126) via a lever and cam control mechanism (134, 138,140) such that it is forcibly adjusted as the control wheel (126)rotates from the second end position to the first end position and fromthe first end position to the intermediate position, whereas, uponmovement of the control wheel (126) from the intermediate position tothe second end position, the forced coupling between the control wheel(126) and the pressure-exerting plate (112) is eliminated.
 4. Thedispensing compartment as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that thepressure-exerting plate (112) is prestressed in the direction of thecompartment base (26).
 5. The dispensing compartment as claimed in claim3, characterized in that the drive motor (132) is a stepping motor, andin that the zero point for the step counting is established by aposition indicator (160) connected to the control wheel (126).
 6. Thedispensing compartment as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that thepressure-exerting plate (112), for covering the compartment, interactswith the second flap (164) which is mounted in the vicinity of thecompartment opening such that it can be pivoted about a spindle (166)directed parallel to the pivot spindle of the pressure-exerting plate(112), and which is coupled to the control wheel (126) via a lever andcam control mechanism (168, 178, 180) such that, as the control wheel(126) is adjusted between its rest end position and its intermediateposition, said flap is adjusted counter to the pivoting movement of thepressure-exerting plate 112).
 7. The dispensing compartment as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the compartment base (26) isprestressed into its stacking position.
 8. The dispensing compartment asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is designed as a modulewhich can be inserted into the machine, comprising a frame (10) whichhas the removal opening and, arranged on said frame, at least theclosure flap (16), also comprising the compartment base (26), thestacking device (100), the separating device (38), the firsttransporting path (72, 80, 90), a second transporting path (101, 90, 80)for conveying banknotes from a second connection location (105) of themodule to the stacking device (100), and the third transporting path(56), the first transporting path (72, 80, 90) and the thirdtransporting path (56) opening out at a first connection location (68),which is common to both.